The United States and its allies have condemned the Taliban’s decision not to reopen secondary schools for Afghan females and have urged the group to reverse its decision.

Foreign Ministers from Canada, France, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the European Union’s High Representative have released a joint statement condemning the Taliban’s decision on March 23 to deny so many Afghan girls the opportunity to return to school.

As the new school year begins in Afghanistan, the Taliban has announced that boys will be able to continue their education as usual, but that girls beyond the sixth grade will be denied access to schools, according to local media.