Private colleges are mulling expansion of scholarship programs for needy students, school officials said Friday, a move seen as an attempt to provide alternatives to the growing call for slashed tuitions. High college tuitions have been a top social and political issue in South Korea in recent weeks, but college administrators have shown reluctance to drastically lower tuitions without extra budgetary support from the government. Students and civic activists have staged protests calling for lower tuitions, and a coalition group is expected to hold a large rally later in the day on the streets of Seoul.