Abstract The outbreak of tuberculosis in campus shows a profound impact on academic learning and mental health of students, which might result in more serious social problems. The present editorial addresses weak links in the school tuberculosis prevention and control. Disease prevention and control institutions, medical institutions, education administrative departments and schools need to clarify work responsibilities, strictly implement the school tuberculosis prevention and control laws, regulations and management guidelines, and coordinate with multiple departments, with the aim to strengthen early warning capacity for campus tuberculosis, improve tuberculosis screening and risk assessment of relevant personnel, and implement the health checkup of schools and faculty, as well as the screening, diagnosis, registration, treatment and follow up of students cases. To further improve tuberculosis control across China, strengthening the awareness of tuberculosis prevention and control among institutions and the public, and improving adherence to tuberculosis treatment, as well as moving forward from passive to active tuberculosis monitoring and early prevention, reducing the occurrence of tuberculosis outbreak in school should be prioritized, so as to promote the smooth development of tuberculosis prevention and control work in China.