LUSAKA, March 5 (Xinhua) -- A senior Zambian government official said on Tuesday that the country needs to accelerate investment in science, technology and mathematics if it is to attain the economic development levels attained by China.

Minister of Higher Education Nkandu Luo said China, as well as other Asian nations such as Japan, did not attain the level of economic development without investments in the three areas which were vital in unlocking development.

"China and Japan are today doing well because the countries first invested in education, science and technology. Zambia cannot afford to lag behind," she said during an award ceremony for university students for the Huawei ICT competition.

According to her, Zambia needs to move with the times by investing in science and technology in order to spur economic development.

The ministry, she said, will focus on skills development in order to create a cadre of young people who will drive the country's development agenda, adding that the current education system has failed to move with the times.

The Zambian minister expressed concern that some of the students coming from the country's universities failed to fit in industries because of lack of experience during their training.

The ministry, she said, was working with universities to create career centers at the learning institutions where industries could go and provide tips on the students before they graduate.

She added it would now be mandatory for all students to undergo industrial attachments in their respective fields.