Madrid, April 24 – Innova Academy, a prominent institution for public examination preparation, has unexpectedly ceased operations, leaving more than 1,000 students and teachers in a state of uncertainty. The academy’s sudden closure, announced on April 10 via a virtual campus message, has sparked outrage among those who had paid significant fees in advance.
Sudden Closure and Lack of Communication
The academy’s phone lines are disconnected, and its physical premises on Reina de las Mercedes street in the Tetuán district of Madrid remain shuttered. Students report receiving no individual notification of the closure, learning of it only through a message posted on the virtual campus. This message attributed the closure to an “extremely delicate financial situation” inherited from previous ownership and administration. The academy stated its efforts to reverse the situation were unsuccessful, making it impossible to continue providing education.
Yulissa García, a 26-year-old student preparing for the Judicial Processing and Administration body, estimates that over 1,000 individuals are affected. “They have defrauded us. I paid 1,369 euros for a year of training. My exam is likely in October, and now I have to try to prepare on my own. Making another financial outlay at another center would be a great effort,” García explained. She enrolled in late November and noted, “I have gone to the academy to ask for explanations, but the door is closed, and no one is inside.”
Impact on Students and Their Preparations
The timing of the closure has been particularly devastating for many students. Ana Barranco, from Madrid, was preparing for the State Museum Assistants body. Her first exam was scheduled for April 11, just one day after the academy announced its immediate closure. “I found out about the immediate closure on a Friday at 8:00 PM, and the test was on Saturday at 9:00 AM. I put my hands on my head and started crying; I was in shock, I didn’t understand anything. There is still a second exam to pass in May,” Barranco recounted. She had paid 440 euros for enrollment and 1,720 euros for training until May 2027, opting for the most economical package.
Angie Carvajal, 26, who was studying to become a state administrative officer, enrolled on January 16, paying 1,345 euros for a two-year program. She learned of the closure four days after it happened, through a professor. “My mother passed away in February, and she decided to invest part of her savings in my access to this training. It’s not just the money; it’s her effort,” Carvajal expressed outside the now-closed academy.
Teachers Also Affected by Unpaid Wages
The impact extends to the academy’s teaching staff, many of whom have not received their salaries for months. Roberto Regal, a 42-year-old teacher, stated that he has not been paid since January. “My three years of employment with this entity had been good until 2025, when to justify the delay of some payment, they told me that the previous ownership had left the accounts empty, but that there would be no problem, that I would get paid,” Regal explained. He continued teaching, trusting that the situation would be resolved, especially as new students continued to enroll.
On April 10, Regal received an individual message from the academy, stating that “CENTROS DE PREPARACIÓN INNOVA, S.L. finds itself in a situation that prevents it from continuing its activities due to causes attributable to the previous ownership and administration, who emptied the company’s assets, leaving it without liquidity and without access to credit, which the current management was unaware of.” The message concluded by informing him that his credit would be included in the list for a bankruptcy application.
Regal feels a lack of honesty from the company, stating, “When I asked if there were problems, they told me everything was fine, that it was just a matter of regularizing the cash. I think they played with me when I thought we were on the same team.” The academy owes Regal 1,600 euros for his services, which included two weekly mindfulness classes for students.
Student Mobilization and Legal Actions
Affected students have organized a WhatsApp group to coordinate their actions, considering a collective criminal lawsuit. Many have already contacted the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU). According to the contracts signed by students, the academy is obligated to provide training for the agreed-upon period. Its closure could constitute a breach of contract, entitling them to claim a refund, at least for the unused portion of their tuition.
Barranco also revealed that there is an outstanding debt with the publisher that supplied materials to the academy, further complicating the situation for students who relied on these resources.
The academy’s website, which has not responded to inquiries, still advertises “elite preparation” and claims to be “the best academy” for public examination candidates, adding to the indignation of those affected.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of students and educators in the face of sudden business closures, especially in sectors where advance payments are common. The affected individuals are now left to navigate the complexities of legal recourse while simultaneously trying to salvage their examination preparations.
