GENDER IDENTITY DISORDER (GID) IN SCHOOL SETTINGS: A REPORT FROM PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCE IN PEKAN, PAHANG JOHARI IBRAHIM 1 & BAIDRUEL HAIRIEL ABD RAHIM 2 1 Ministry of Education (MOE) Malaysia, Bachelor of Guidance and Counseling, Kulliyah of Education, International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia 2 Graduate Education Officer, SMK Dato’ Mahmud Mat, Pekan Pahang, Malaysia 2 Discipline of Sociology and Anthropology, Kulliyah of Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia ABSTRACT This paper aims to elucidate the nature of GID students in primary school. Although the number of primary students who experience GID is relatively small, they are subjected to few problems causing by their peers from the same sex. The genetic factor is said to be one of the reason that developed GID among primary students in schools. The social factors caused by family and peers have also been elucidated as one of the major cause. In this study, we have employed the qualitative approach by using in depth interview with 5 identified GID male students in the area of Pekan, Pahang. The findings of this small scale study show that the GID among primary school students has something to do with environmental factor, school engagement and support as well as teacher’s role in assisting the problem. It is hence interesting to see the outcome of this small scale study as it contributes to the development of new knowledge especially in the field of guidance and counselling. KEYWORDS: Primary School, Small Scale Study INTRODUCTION Recently, the case of men dressed in women that appeals in court invited various polemics. Winning cases against the federal court on the ground that the offender suffered from gender identity disorder (GID) has got received various reactions in all walks of life. However, in general, people do not know and were not informed clearly about these things then blame the perpetrator. Who is to blame? Are genetic factors become the main cause of treatment concerned? What about socialization factors and the local environment of an individual growing up? This paper attempts to elucidate the issue of mental health in school. Since we have been given an option to choose the topics based on our observation and interest. We choose the topic on gender identity disorder (GID) as the topic for further research for this course as we always believe that the root cause of the societal calamities nowadays and confusion are due to the misconception, misunderstanding and wrong approach in dealing with the GID related matter. Most of all, let us make it clear that the issue to be investigated is not related at all, at least for this case, to the social and cultural issues related to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) but merely the misunderstanding of the notion. Correspondingly, this paper discerns the real scenario in Malaysian school in regard to gender identity disorder. This research is basically a case study. Therefore, we utilized the in-depth interview with 5 identified GID students in primary school at my place. Although the number of sample is relatively small, we believe the depth-ness and richness of data gained is invaluable and can be shared with other researchers from other continents and culture. BEST: International Journal of Humanities, Arts, Medicine and Sciences (BEST: IJHAMS) ISSN 2348-0521 Vol. 3, Issue 1, Jan 2015, 21-28 © BEST Journals