By Aaron Recuenco BATANGAS CITY-- More than 73,000 pupils were displaced while 78 schools were abandoned, even as authorities rush to clear the 14-kilometer danger zone around the Taal Volcano. Department of Education (DepEd) - Calabarzon Regional Director Wilfredo Cabral Wilfredo Cabral, regional director of the Department of Education (DepEd) - Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), said 3,379 teachers were also affected by the continuous rumblings of Taal Volcano. "The challenge now is for these displaced learners to continue with their classes," Cabral told the Manila Bulletin in an interview here during the DepEd executive committee meeting. Based on the initial discussions, two measures will be implemented to continue with the regular classes of the affected pre-school, elementary, junior, and senior high school students. First, Cabral said there were already instructions for school principals near the evacuation centers to accommodate the displaced students, who will all be allowed to attend classes depending on their grade levels. "There will be a separate report on the performance of the displaced students so that when the time comes that they would be allowed to go back, these performance reports would just be turned over to the schools they are enrolled in," Cabral said. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office earlier said it is preparing for a three-month contingency for the Taal Volcano eruption, given its history of erupting for more than six months. Cabral said this is the reason why separate performance reports are important, because there is a possibility that the volcano rumblings would last until the end of the school year. Second, Cabral said that temporary learning spaces (TLS) will be set up in the evacuation centers. "We are currently conducting assessments as to how many TLS will be set up." Displaced teachers Based on DepEd data, there are 3, 379 teachers and DepEd personnel who were displaced by the volcano eruption. As part of DepEd measures, Cabral said the teachers in schools within the 14-kilometer danger zone will be tapped to augment the teachers in schools where the displaced students will be accommodated. Some of the displaced teachers will also be asked to report to the evacuation centers where TLS will be set up. DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said that affected teachers and non-teaching personnel could also avail of calamity loans. ‘Stop the habit’ In her speech here, Briones also stressed the need for the government to stop the habit of using schools as evacuation centers. "Schools are the homes of children. While the owners of these homes could accommodate the displaced people, it should not be forever because as home owners, they also have the need to use their homes," Briones said, adding that she has reiterated her stand to Malacañang officials. DepEd data showed that 1,447 classrooms in 178 schools in Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, and Quezon are being used as evacuation centers for Taal Volcano eruption victims. As a result, regular classes are affected in areas where no class suspension is in effect. Briones proposed that local government units find places other than schools to house evacuees in order not to disrupt the children’s education. Abandoned DepEd said 78 public schools were already abandoned as a result of the lockdown being implemented in some towns of Batangas. The abandoned schools are located in areas close to Taal Volcano. The figure, however, does not include the two elementary schools on Volcano Island that were ordered shut down in November last year after the provincial government declared that Volcano Island must be a no man's land.