The government says gender identity and consent will be taught as part of a new sexual-education curriculum that will be introduced to schools by the fall.
It's part of the plan for other aspects of the education sector, including class sizes and teacher hiring.
The curriculum will replace an interim teaching plan based on 1998 materials that was put in place last year after the Progressive Conservatives repealed a 2015 curriculum from the previous Liberal government.
The 2015 curriculum addressed consent, online bullying, sexting, same-sex relationships and gender identity.
The province says parents will still be able to opt out of having their kids exposed to certain topics in the sex-ed class, and the ministry will issue online modules for those who want guidance on discussing those topics at home.
Other measures announced today call for a ban on cellphones during class except for educational purposes and maintaining class sizes for kindergarten to grade 3, establish consistent approach to class sizes grades 4-8, align secondary class sizes more closely with other CDN jurisdictions
It also calls for a return to math basics.