Persaud, who is currently a final year student pursuing an undergraduate degree in Philosophy, Politcs and Economics (PPE) at Oxford University, is a former pupil of Queen's College. She was the Caribbean's top Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examinations (CSEC) pupil in 1999, winning the prize for Best Performer in the Humanities and Guyana's top achiever at the General Certificate of Education Advance Level Examinations in 2001.

Persaud's latest award, the Rhodes Scholarship, comes as no surprise to the Ministry of Education, which has been following the young woman's academic achievements over the years.

Criteria for the award include proven intellectual and academic achievements, caring for the weak, leadership and a desire to return to one's country to contribute to its development.

The Ministry of Education wishes Persaud well in her future studies. The award is tenable only at the highly recognized Oxford University.