The Saskatchewan government says schools must now seek parental consent when children under 16 want to change their names or pronouns.

Education Minister Dustin Duncan said Tuesday that the province wants to standardize pronoun and naming policies, as they varied from one school division to another.

A similar move earlier this year in New Brunswick was faced by intense opposition by LGBTQ groups.

鈥淧arent and guardian involvement is critical in every student鈥檚 education,鈥� Duncan said in a statement.

鈥淪chools will continue to ensure safe learning environments where all students feel included, protected and respected.鈥�

The province also said that parents and guardians must be informed of a school鈥檚 sexual education curriculum and given the option to decline their child鈥檚 participation.

The province recently had a review done of its sexual education curriculum after Planned Parenthood inadvertently took inappropriate sexual material into a high school.

Duncan said schools must pause any involvement with third-party organizations connected to sexual health education.

鈥淥ur government has heard the concerns raised by Saskatchewan parents about needing to be notified and included in their children鈥檚 education in these important areas,鈥� he said.

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