About 700000 children in Mexico dropped out of school last year as recession-stricken families pushed kids to work, and a weak economic recovery will allow only a 1 improvement in the drop-out rate in 2010, a top education official said.Mexico"s economy suffered more than any other in Latin America last year, 2 an estimated 7 percent due to a plunge in US 3 for Mexican exports such as cars.The 4 led to a 4 percent increase in the number of kids who left 5 or middle school in 2009, said Juan de Dios Castro, who heads the nation"s adult education program and keeps a close watch on drop-out rates." 6 rose and that is a factor that makes our job more difficult," Castro told Reuters in an interview earlier this month. 7 higher taxes and weak demand for its exports, Mexico"s economy is seen only partially recovering this year. As a result, drop-out rates will not improve much, Castro said."There will be some improvement, but not significant," Castro said.Mexico has historically had high drop-out rate as poor families 8 kids out of school to help put food on the table. And children often sell candy and crafts in the streets or work in restaurants.The nation"s drop-out problem is just the latest bad news for the long-term 9 of the Mexican economy. Mexico"s politicians have resisted mending the country"s tax, energy and labor laws 10 , leaving its economy behind countries such as Brazil and Chile.