Section 59: SMK Datuk Mansor Bahau
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Datuk Mansor, or commonly known as SMK Datuk Mansor, is a national secondary school located at Km 4, Jalan Juasseh. Currently (2023), Tunku Munawir Secondary School in Bahau has 529 male students and 617 female students, studying from Form 1 to Form 6, with a total student population of 1146, and 107 teachers.
During its establishment, the school was named Bahau English Secondary School, but on September 22, 1972, the name was changed to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Datuk Mansor, in commemoration of the Chief Minister of Negeri Sembilan at that time, YAB Datuk Mansor Othman.
The school's location is strategic, situated between Juasseh Road and Batu Kikir Road, approximately 3 kilometers away from the town of Bahau. The early history of the school began in 1963 when it temporarily operated in St Aidan Primary School, Bahau. Six classes were opened with Mr. Doradas Dorairaj as the headmaster. In January 1966, the school moved to its current location. Bahau English Secondary School was chosen as the name due to the widespread use of the English language, as Malay had not yet become the main medium of instruction.
The students who were previously attending classes at St. Aidan Primary School moved to this new school. At the beginning, only three blocks were built, including the Principal's office, teachers' office, administrative office, 18 classrooms, 1 courtroom, 1 arts and entrepreneurship room, 1 library, and 2 home science laboratories. At the same time, students from Batu Kikir Secondary School's fourth and fifth forms also transferred here. As a result, the school had two streams, English and National. The total number of students in the first year of the school's opening was 27. Mr. P.A Madhavan from Port Dickson Secondary School was appointed as the first Principal.
In 1969, the Malay medium classes were transferred to Batu Kikir Secondary School. Nevertheless, the number of students increased to 865, and the number of teachers increased to 35. Due to insufficient classrooms, Form 1 classes had to be held in the afternoon.
The first batch of Malay medium students sat for the Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) examination at the end of 1967. The students' academic performance was excellent, and their examination results were remarkable. On February 25, 1969, YB Khir Johari, the Minister of Education at that time, inaugurated the Bahau English Secondary School. Subsequently, the school's name was officially changed to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Datuk Mansor on September 22, 1969, by the YAB Chief Minister of Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Mansor bin Othman. A surau (prayer room) was established in 1983 to cater to the needs of Muslim teachers and students, where various activities were conducted.
The school's field was constructed a year after its opening. In 1976, a multi-purpose sports court (for volleyball, tennis, and roller skating) was built through the efforts and contributions from teachers, students, and donors. To further enhance the school's sports facilities, tennis, volleyball, and sepak takraw courts were built in 1975.
The school also provides hostel facilities for male and female students. The boys' hostel was built and occupied in 1973, while the girls' hostel was occupied in 1979. Up to now, both hostels can accommodate a total of 186 students, most of whom come from distant areas.