Willem Iskander


Willem Iskander was an Indonesian writer, nationalist, teacher and educator. He advocated for native Indonesian education in Dutch colonial times from North Sumatra. He founded Teacher Education School in 1862in Tano Bato, Mandailing Natal Regency.

Early life

Willem Iskander was born in Pidoli Lombang, the son of Raja Tinating. He was the 11th generation of Nasution clan. His family came from the royal house in Mandailing. He graduated from Elementary School, Panyabungan, 1853–1855. He worked in this school as teacher when he was 15, the school's youngest teacher.

Career

He worked in Mandailing-Angkola Asisten resident office as Administrator of the government.
In 1857, he studied in the Netherlands. He studied Vreswjik, then at Oefenschool for teaching assistant. In 1861, he returned to Indonesia and founded Kweekschool Voor Inlandche Onderwijzr in Tano Bato, Mandailing Natal Regency in 1862.
In 1874, he again visited the Netherlands to participate in the Head Teacher Education title'' study.
In January 1876, he married Maria Christina, but died in April of that year.